Bronx

Information Update – Bronx Satellite Sites

December 17, 2014

Please see below items for your information and/or action:

  1. On behalf of the Bronx Satellite sites, we welcome Mr. Suri Singh as the Bronx Borough Principal. Mr. Singh has begun to visit and meet the staff and students in their respective sites.
  2. Special appreciation to Miriam Bernal from DeWitt Clinton and Santa Paula from Mary Mitchell for supporting the Key to the City event at Bronx Regional on Sunday, December 5. They volunteered their time to support immigrant families by providing translation support and guiding families to available resources.
  3. Learning Environment Surveys: We heard your feedback!  In previous years we have administered the student survey once a year in May. This year, the survey will be administered twice to capture feedback of students who are a part of our program in the fall. Surveys will be mailed to the sites directly. The window for survey administration will open on January 13 and the survey administration must be completed by January 28.
  4. TABE Session II: Please be aware that TABE Session II will begin on January 8 and run through January 29. Any student who has accumulated 150 instructional hours will need to be re-tested.  Student lists will be generated and distributed upon our return from the winter recess.
  5. ORT Scheduling: Over the last several weeks I have noticed that many students have been scheduled for the ORT (a good thing J). I have also noticed that many students are not showing up for their scheduled test dates. Please know that every effort is made to provide students with their first choice in terms of testing date and location, however, testing sites can only accommodate a certain number of students per test administration. That said, it is important that students know to report to their testing sites on time.  Students should know that successful completion of the ORT is the first step toward taking the TASC. When students do not show up for their test date please follow up as soon as possible and let me know the outcomes.
  6. Occurrence Reports/Suspensions: Please be aware that an occurrence report must be filed within 24 hours of the reported occurrence. An occurrence report in itself makes it known that something happened at the site. An occurrence report may involve students, staff or the facility in general. Anytime something happens at a site, you must let me know immediately and we will determine next steps. When occurrence reports involve students, every effort must be made to contact the student’s family and alert them to the occurrence. With any occurrence, and especially if it becomes necessary to suspend a student, an occurrence report must be completely filled out, an appropriate infraction code included (if applicable), and a specific and descriptive narrative that explains what happened and any previous interventions taken (if applicable).  Reports are then forwarded to the Sutphin office.Reports that are complete may be entered into OORS and processed more efficiently.
  7. Safety Plans: I have begun working on the District 79 satellite safety plans in collaboration with our agency partners.  If you have any immediate safety concerns, please reach out to me directly so these concerns may be addressed.
  8. DOE Email: Over the years, many of us have changed work locations within the DOE. To this end, it is important that our school location information in Outlook (the DOE Email system) has been updated to reflect current information.  Please see below directions on how to do this:
    a.  Click on: https://directory.nycboe.net/self
    b.  Enter username and password
    Username=Central/Outlook ID
    Password= Outlook password
    c.  Click on my account
    d.  Change address/phone number
    If you require assistance in completing this, please e-mail Joanne Mitchell (JMitchell5@schools.nyc.gov) . You must provide her with your Employee Reference Number, which is located on your paystub. Please be specific with the changes you are requesting assistance in making. This information should be updated as soon as possible.
  9. Personnel:
    a.  We wish Ms. Malave, our satellite math teacher,  a speedy recovery as she underwent  surgery on December 16.  We look forward to welcoming her back as soon as she is able.
    b.  We wish Mr. Gathers, AP all of the best as he has accepted a new assignment supporting District 79 programs in Brooklyn.
    c.  Per Bob Zweig’s e-mail,  Ria Romano will be absent for several weeks. If anyone has payroll concerns or questions, please contact Ms. Silvia Lovaglio at slovaglio@schools.nyc.gov
  10. Holiday Recess: Be aware that the final day of classes is Tuesday, December 23. The first day of winter break is December 24 and classes resume on Monday, January 5, 2015. Please ensure that all DOE and personal belongings are securely stored for the duration of the recess.
  11. Please be aware that I am having technical difficulties with my blackberry. I am hoping it is only a battery issue which is easily remedied. In the interim, if you need to get in touch with me, please feel free to contact me via text/phone/email  on my personal cell phone: (518) 253-2208.

As always, if you need any anything, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your attention. I wish all of you an enjoyable, restful and peaceful holiday season. I look forward to our continued work in the New Year.

Best,

Michelle Guzman